ANTH 161 – BIO-BEHAVIORAL EVOLUTION OF THE HUMAN SPECIES
ANTH 161 – BIO-BEHAVIORAL EVOLUTION OF THE HUMAN SPECIES
Clever Monkeys
• Watch the 30-second introduction, then click on “explore more from this episode” and click on “Monkeys and Medicinal Plants” (text), “Monkeys and Language” (text), and “Monkeys and Emotion” (text).
• What is zoopharmacognosy? Give two examples based on the presented text.
• Give two examples of language abilities in monkeys.
• How do monkeys express emotions related to death, stress, and friendship?
website: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/clever-monkeys-introduction/3946/
The E-Skeleton’s Project
• Compare the human and the baboon cranium. Describe each bone. What are the
differences between the two?
• Compare the human and gorilla cranium. Describe each bone. What are the differences between the two?
• Compare the human and gorilla mandible. Describe each bone. What are the differences between the two?
• Compare the human and baboon mandible. Describe each bone. What are the differences between the two?
• Compare the human and baboon innominate (os Coxa). Describe each bone. What are the differences between the two?
• Compare the human and gorilla innominate (os Coxa). Describe each bone. What are the differences between the two?
website: http://www.eskeletons.org/
ANTH 161 – BIO-BEHAVIORAL EVOLUTION OF THE HUMAN SPECIES
Primate Brains
• Look at the images of the brains of the ring-tailed lemur, tarsier, spider monkey, baboon chimp and human. What are the differences?
• In the “brain evolution” section, click on “paleoneurology.” What is an endocast? What information is derived from an endocast?
• Click on “brain development.” Describe the development of the human brain.
website: http://brainmuseum.org/Specimens/primates/index.html
Becoming Human
• Click on “learning center” and then on “building bodies.” Assemble the appropriate bones into a complete chimp and a complete human skeleton.
• Which bones did you have the most difficulty with?
• What is the difference between the foramen magnum in chimps versus in humans?
• What are the differences in the pelvis and femurs?
• What are other important differences between the two skeletons?
website: http://www.becominghuman.org/
The Jane Goodall Institute
• Go to the website. Click on “Wiki” on the top menu. There are two sections: Jane Wiki and Chimp Wiki. You will explore both sections to answer the following questions:
• Who is Jane Goodall? What was her most notable and surprising discovery about
chimpanzees? Give examples.
• Are chimpanzees herbivores or omnivores. Explain with examples.
• What is the chimpanzee habitat like?
• How do chimpanzees communicate with each other?
website: http://www.janegoodall.org/;
Amboseli Baboon Research Project
• What is a day in the life of a baboon like? What are some of the activities they engage
in?
• Click on “Baboon social life.” What characterizes baboon social life? Be sure to watch the video examples of baboon social behavior.
• What have the researchers learned from doing genetic research?
website: http://www.princeton.edu/~baboon/
DETAILED ASSIGNMENT
